Fun and Simple Alphabet Games for Preschoolers Through First Grade

Learning the alphabet and letter recognition is a paramount task for young elementary school students. Reading is of the utmost educational importance to our children today. School curriculums are very heavily weighted in reading and language arts, even from before the time your kids walk through the doors. School systems have high expectations of kindergarteners and students in the early grades, with a solid alphabet learning base being the primary goal for preschool and kindergarten, and on into the first grade. Without such a base, children will quickly fall behind and struggle with subsequent learning.

Teachers expect that children entering kindergarten will have at least a rudimentary knowledge of the alphabet, with a strong emphasis on letter recognition. Both teachers and parents struggle with helping children gain this knowledge, without overwhelming them and causing boredom and frustration. Teachers recognize that the best way to help a child learn is not through repetitive rote activities, but with fun and interesting learning games. Discussed here are some fun, simple, and inexpensive alphabet games and activities you can play at home with any child preschool age or older to gain a much needed alphabet learning base, and reinforce what your children are learning at school.

Letter Hunt
This is a fun activity that is active as well, another very important aspect to consider in the life and learning of a young child. To prepare the game, cut squares of paper and write a different letter of the alphabet on each one. Tuck the letters into a plastic Easter egg and hide them around the house or yard. When your child finds an egg, have them tell you the letter inside. To take the game a step further for an older child, ask them to point out something in the room or yard, or think of any word that begins with that letter sound.